(By Delegates Morgan, Stephens, Eldridge and Paxton)
[Introduced February 21, 2013; referred to the
Committee on Government Organization.]

A BILL to amend and reenact §30-6-8 of the Code of West Virginia,
1931, as amended, relating to qualifications for a license to
practice embalming.Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That §30-6-8 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended,
be amended and reenacted to read as follows:
§30-6-8. Embalmer license requirements.
(a) The board shall issue a license to practice embalming to
an applicant who: meets the following requirements:
(1) Is of good moral character;
(2) Is eighteen years of age or over;
(3) Is a citizen of the United States or is eligible for
employment in the United States;
(4) Holds a high school diploma or its equivalent;
(5) Has completed one of the following education requirements:
(A) (i) Holds an associate degree from an accredited college
or university, or has successfully completed not less than sixty
semester hours or ninety quarter hours of academic work in an
accredited college or university toward a baccalaureate degree with
a declared major field of study, as evidenced by a transcript
submitted to the board for evaluation; prior to beginning a one-
year course of apprenticeship and prior to obtaining a diploma of
graduation from a school of mortuary science, has completed a one-
year course of apprenticeship under the supervision of a licensed
embalmer and funeral director actively and lawfully engaged in the
practice of embalming and funeral directing in this state, such
apprenticeship to consist of diligent attention to the work in the
course of regular and steady employment and not as a side issue to
another employment, and under which the apprentice shall have taken
an active part in the operation of embalming not less than thirty-
five dead human bodies and an active part in conducting not less
than thirty-five funeral services; and (ii) Possesses a diploma of graduation from a school of
mortuary science accredited by the American Board of Funeral
Service Education, Inc., which requires as a prerequisite to
graduation the completion of a course of study not less than twelve
months' duration; and which said school of mortuary science must be
one accredited by the American Board of Funeral Service Education,
Inc., and duly approved by the board; or
(B) Holds a bachelor degree in mortuary science from an
accredited college or university as evidenced by a transcript
submitted for evaluation prior to beginning a one-year course of
apprenticeship; (6) Has completed a one-year course of apprenticeship under
the supervision of a licensed embalmer and funeral director
actively and lawfully engaged in the practice of embalming and
funeral directing in this state, such apprenticeship to consist of
diligent attention to the work in the course of regular and steady
employment and not as a side issue to another employment, and under
which the apprentice shall have taken an active part in the
operation of embalming not less than thirty-five dead human bodies
and an active part in conducting not less than thirty-five funeral
services;(6)(7) Passes with an average score of not less than seventy-
five percent the national conference of funeral services
examination at a testing site provided by the national conference,
passes with a score of not less than seventy-five percent the state
law examination administered by the board and passes such further
examination as the board may deem necessary to ascertain
qualification and ability to engage in the practice of embalming.
Successfully passing the national conference of funeral services
examination is a condition precedent to taking the state law
examination administered by the board. The board shall offer the state law examination at least twice each year; and(7)(8) Has paid all the appropriate fees.
(b) A license to practice embalming issued by the board prior
to July 1, 2002, shall for all purposes be considered a license
issued under this section: Provided, That a person holding a
license issued prior to July 1, 2002, must renew the license
pursuant to the provisions of this article.

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to remove the requirement
that an applicant for a license to practice embalming complete
college courses before beginning a one-year apprenticeship and
before graduating from mortuary school. The requirements remain
the same but do not have to be achieved in a particular order.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from
the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would
be added.